sanders



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. SANDERS & J. B. RAFPBRTY.

BIER.

No. 450,894. Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

l i M WJ By M ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. SANDERS & J. B. RAPPERTY.

BIER.

No. 450,894. P tented Apr. 21, 1891.

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ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT @EEicE.

WILTSIIIRE SANDERS AND JOHN BENJAMIN RAFFERTY, OF RENO, NEVADA.

BIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,894, dated Apri12l, 1891.

Application filed September 15, 1890. Serial No. 365,088. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILTSHIRE SANDEEs and J oHN BENJAMIN RAEEEETY, of Reno, in the county of Washoe and State of Nevada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Biers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is an improvement in the class of folding or collapsible biers, more especially such as are provided with casters or other form of wheels for adapting them to be more easily moved from place to place.

The novelty consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of our bier extended in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one end portion folded upon the other, which remains in the original horizontal position. Fig. 3 is also a perspective view show ing the parts folded as compactly as possible.

4 is a perspective view illustrating a deall a The main frame of the bier is rectangular and oblong. The parallel side bars are connected rigidly by means of a transverse bar I) and iron rods 0. The said side bars are divided transversely at the middle of their length and flexibly connected at that point by means of strong strap hinges cl, which are so applied as to permit one portion of the bier to be folded over upon the other, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, as will be seen, the bier is 00111- posed of two main folding parts. The side bars a a of one such part are supported at their inner ends by two hinged folding legs e e and at their outer ends by a single folding leg f, which is rigidly attached to a transverse roller c, j ournaled in said side bars. The other folding part of the bier is supported at its inner end by the hinges d and at its outer end by a folding leg f, which, like the other folding leg f, is connected with the side bars a ct by a roller g.

The means for holding the folding legs f f rigid in the upright position are as follows: Each of the legs is connected by abifurcated brace h with a transverse bar t, whose rectangular ends enter and slide in grooves 7, formed longitudinally in the inner sides of both sets of side bars a a a a. The braces h are loosely jointed to the said bars, so that each of the latter may be turned or rotated on its axis, in order to lock it in a depression or downward extension formed at the outer end of each groove jthat is to say, when the bars h are turned to bring their sides parallel with the sides of the grooves they will slide along the latter, and thus allow the legs ff to be folded, Fig. 3; but when turned, say one-quarter around, the said bars 7i engage the shoulders of the terminal depressions of the grooves j, Figs. 1 and 4, and are thus prevented from sliding along the grooves j. As shown in the drawings, the braces 11 are connected with the bars 7t by means of loops passing through holes in the latter. It is obvious various modes of loose connection of these parts might be adopted with the same result. The legs e e are provided with pivoted braces it, having a rule-joint.

As shown in Fig. 1, the part composed of side bars a a and leg f is folded and rests on the other part having the rigid legs e and the folding leg f. The bier is then tilted to bring the bars a a and a a into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3, when the legs e and fare also folded. The bier is then in compact form, as required for storage or transportation.

The several folding legs are provided with casters 7t, thus converting the bier into a truck, which may be easily moved about even when supporting a corpse.

o provide the bier with trays Zfor sup-.

porting candles, bouquets, or other objects which it may be desired to place beside the corpse. Each tray is attached to a right-angular rod m,whose vertical arm enters a socket in a side bar a or a.

When in use, the trays Z are turned outward, so as to project laterally from the body of the bier, as shown in Fig. 1; but when the bier is folded, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the trays are turned inward and held in such position by means of hooks at, that are pivoted to the inner sides of the bars a and at and engage the horizontal arms of the rods m. To further secure the said rods, their horizontal arms may be let into shallow grooves in the side bars, as shown.

Vhat we claim is- 1. In abier, the combination,with the frame side bars having internal longitudinal grooves,

and the pivoted hooks adapted to engage the to rods and hold the trays locked in the folded position, as specified.

' WILTSHIRE SANDERS.

JOHN BENJAMIN RAFFERTY.

WVitnesses:

H. L. FISH, GEO. H. TAYLOR. 

